General > General Technical Chat

Starship/SuperHeavy orbital Flight Test LIVE

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Sal Ammoniac:

--- Quote from: asmi on April 27, 2023, 03:03:51 pm ---
--- Quote from: Sal Ammoniac on April 26, 2023, 11:18:40 pm ---The SRBs were segmented because it was impractical to transport full-length boosters from the Utah plant to KSC.

--- End quote ---
I would imagine that the safety aspect was also important as SRB is basically a LOT of highly-explosive material with some moderator to control burning, and so if something goes sideways during transportation, it will be one hell of explosion. Splitting it in segments limits potential damage.

--- End quote ---

There was a transportation incident involving SRB segments back in May 2007. A train carrying eight segments derailed in Alabama. The segments were tossed around, but none ignited and there was no disaster. After inspection, all eight segments were used on shuttle flights.

james_s:
I'd imagine it would be pretty spectacular if and accident resulting in a fire ignited a complete assembled SRB being transported horizontally on the ground. Of course they're massive things so I'm not even sure how you'd transport an assembled one, the logistics of that alone support the segmented approach.

asmi:

--- Quote from: coppice on April 27, 2023, 03:48:53 pm ---The fuel is solid. Its not volatile. It burns ferociously once ignited, but like many high energy combustible or explosive materials its pretty hard to get started. One of the nice things about solid fuel rockets for things like air-to-air attacks is you want them to sit around for years unused with minimal risk and maintenance, and they do.

--- End quote ---
That is still more dangerous than with liquid rockets, which are simply transported unfueled and therefore these is zero chance of explosive accident.

coppice:

--- Quote from: asmi on April 27, 2023, 07:28:28 pm ---
--- Quote from: coppice on April 27, 2023, 03:48:53 pm ---The fuel is solid. Its not volatile. It burns ferociously once ignited, but like many high energy combustible or explosive materials its pretty hard to get started. One of the nice things about solid fuel rockets for things like air-to-air attacks is you want them to sit around for years unused with minimal risk and maintenance, and they do.

--- End quote ---
That is still more dangerous than with liquid rockets, which are simply transported unfueled and therefore these is zero chance of explosive accident.

--- End quote ---
That rather ignores the bulk transport of the fuel and oxidiser, which are potential disasters throughout the supply chain. There is no escape from hazard when high energies are involved. Solid fuels is comparatively benign.

tautech:
Before and after.  :o

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